Where’d Everybody Go? (Isaiah 50:9)

Behold, the Lord GOD helps me; who will declare me guilty? Behold, all of them will wear out like a garment; the moth will eat them up. (Isaiah 50:9)

Jesus didn’t escape accusation and condemnation even though He was perfectly sinless and perfectly righteous. There were false accustions and trumped up, manufactured charges. The Jewish religious leaders found Him guilty of blasphemy. Pilot could find no guilt. Still, He was crucified.

But the Jewish religious leaders and Pilot are not the judges that matter. And they could not prove or declare His guilt before the only judge that really matters, God. No, while they were against Him, tying to assess and prove His guilt, God was there to help Him.

This verse points our another important truth. All the false accusers are long gone. They have worn out like a garment. The moth has eaten them up. Their accusations silenced. And Jesus? Vindicated. Exalted. Sitting on His throne as King of the universe.

Doing what is right doesn’t mean you and I won’t face opposition, accusation, and condemnation from man. We may even face it from religious leaders or from government. But they are not the judges that ultimately matter. God is. We live our lives for the approval of an audience of one.
　
So, what do we do when we face false accusation and condemnation from man?

1. Make sure we are in fact guiltless of wrong doing before the true judge, God. If necessary, confess, repent, and make amends with those we have wronged.

2. Never return evil for evil or insult for insult (1 Peter 3:9)). Never return false accusation or retaliation. Never.

3. Entrust your life and your circumstances to the sovereign hands and plan of a faithful Creator and continue to do what is right in His eyes (1 Peter 4:19).

4. Remember, man may be successful in accusing us before man, but not before God. Live for the approval of the audience of one.

Who dares accuse us whom God has chosen for his own?

No one-- for God himself has given us right standing with himself.

Who then will condemn us?

No one-- for Christ Jesus died for us and was raised to life for us,

and he is sitting in the place of honor at God's right hand,

pleading for us.

(Romans 8:33-34)

Soli Deo Gloria


Next: Confidence in the Darkness (Isaiah 50:10)